Former Alabama quarterback Blake Sims has a lot of catching up to do after joining the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League this week. He also has an opportunity: The Argos don't have a firm timetable when All-CFL QB Ricky Ray will be ready after offseason shoulder surgery.

Sims arrived in Toronto on Wednesday night and jumped right into team meetings. The Argos' rookies wrapped up their minicamp on Friday, and the Double Blue's veterans reported for training camp on Saturday.

"It's been kind of crazy," Sims said in a video interview for the CFL's YouTube channel. "I'm just trying to keep 10 toes down and stay above water and just try to stay positive, try not to overwhelm myself a lot of times. The main thing for me is just staying positive and keep looking forward."

"I'm glad that they have chosen me to play for them," Sims said after meeting the Toronto coaching staff.

Toronto coach Scott Milanovich said he thought Sims had the physical tools to succeed in the CFL.

"He looks like he has a strong arm," Milanovich said. "From watching him just at Alabama on TV, I've always felt he has the ability to throw the deep ball. Certainly above average, if not really good, mobility. You know he's going to have been very, very well-coached. I'm assuming he's going to be a good leader. I'm anxious to see what he can do as we get to know him."

Sims will get a crash course on Canadian football, where he'll be playing on a larger field with an extra teammate in the backfield and unlimited presnap motion for the backs and ends. The Argos start their preseason schedule on June 9 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The regular season kicks off on June 27 with Toronto facing the Edmonton Eskimos.

"It's one thing to learn the CFL game and, then on top of that, you have to learn our offense," Milanovich said. "And he didn't have the benefit of being in minicamp. He's behind the eight-ball a little bit in terms of mentally. But I think he's a bright kid. We'll be patient with him. We're not expecting too much too soon."

Sims, who was issued jersey No. 4, said he likes the new game, and he's been picking Ray's brain already.

"I like the offense," Sims said. "I really like it a lot. It's kind of like coach (Lane) Kiffin taught me. The only thing that's different to me is the way that the guys motion. I think that's kind of different, but I'm getting used to it as it goes."

Ray has only this week made his first tosses after undergoing surgery in November to repair the torn labrum in his right shoulder and a small tear in his right rotator cuff.

In 12 CFL seasons, Ray has completed 4,205-of-6,217 passes for 52,063 yards and 279 touchdowns. Last season, the three-time Grey Cup champion completed 425-of-620 passes for 4,595 yards and 28 touchdowns and ran for 216 yards and a touchdown. He led the CFL in passing yards, touchdown passes and completion percentage and was the quarterback on the CFL All-Star team for the third time in his career.

"I saw the doctor yesterday," Ray told reporters on Wednesday, "and was able to get the go-ahead to start throwing a football. I was able to throw a little bit today. I still have a ways to go. It's still a little weak, and it's got to get in shape."

With Ray out, the Double Blue has Trevor Harris at quarterback. Harris, who played collegiately at NCAA Division II Edinboro, has spent the previous three seasons as Ray's backup. When Ray was out with a concussion last season, Harris completed 26-of-36 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns against the Ottawa Redblacks.

Milanovich said Harris will be the quarterback until Ray returns - whenever that might be.

"As of right now, Trevor's the guy," Milanovich told the Toronto Star. "I'm never going to rule Ricky out."

Toronto also has quarterbacks Logan Kilgore of Middle Tennessee and Mitchell Gale of Abilene Christian on the roster. Kilgore went to training camp with the New Orleans Saints last year.

While Sims is the only former Alabama player on the Toronto roster, he's not the only Argonaut with football roots in the state. Swayze Waters, a former UAB standout, is Toronto's place-kicker and punter. He was the CFL's Most Outstanding Special Teams Player last season.

On Friday, ex-Toronto standout Robert McCune, who starred at LeFlore High School in Mobile, addressed the rookies at the team's training facility. A former NFL linebacker, McCune played for the Toronto team that won the 100th Grey Cup in 2012.